Partners
We have been fortunate to work with the organisations listed below:
ActionAid
Link: www.actionaid.org
We're currently working with ActionAid as consultants and software developers for their Global Schools Project. This project will see UK schools linked with others across the world.
BBC
Link: www.bbc.co.uk
For those that don't know - and we can't imagine there are many - the British Broadcasting Corporation is the national broadcaster for
the UK. We were delighted to work with them on the Bigger Picture project.
The British Council
Link: www.britishcouncil.org
A very large organization, whose purpose is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries and
to increase appreciation of the UK's creative ideas and achievements. We've had the pleasure of working with them on both the Bigger Picture project and their Global Gateway initiative, which we evaluated for them.
Plan International
Link: www.plan-international.org
Plan are a large NGO who have been around for over 60 years. They focus on supporting impoverished communities in the developing world.
They are also passionate about child advocacy and development education, which is why they asked us to run the Young People's Commission
for Africa with them. They work in 45 different countries and, in our opinion, do a pretty fine job.
DCSF: ICT in Schools Division
Link: www.teachernet.gov.uk
We've worked with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (previously Education and Skills) for quite a few years now. One of the divisions we've worked closely with
is ICT in Schools. They funded the initial pilot of the Gemin-i Plus software and have been great supporters of ours (and we
of them)
ever since.
DCSF: Joint International Unit
Link: www.dcsf.gov.uk
We've had the pleasure of working with the International Unit of the DCSF (was DfES) for some years now. They've funded the creation of the
Gemin-i Plus software and we have been involved in trying to help shape their Global Gateway via various steering groups and papers
we have written.
DfID
Link: www.dfid.gov.uk
The Department for International Development were the first people to fund us for the Gemin-i Plus project. DfID is the UK governments
department that manages the aid provided to poor countries and works to eradicate poverty. DfID is responsible for the Commission for
Africa, which we support wholeheartedly.
Edunova
Link: www.edunova.org
Edunova is an international educational consultancy. We were lucky enough to work with them on the COGS project.
Manchester Metropolitan University - Institute of Education
Link: www.ioe.mmu.ac.uk/
MMU-IOE is the UK's leading institution for educational research and study. We've been working with MMU-IOE on the Classroom
Observation Tool (now called Reflect) and drawing much from their extensive experience.
The British Museum
Link: www.thebritishmuseum.org
The BM is one of the best and most highly respected museums on the planet. A very forward thinking institution, we were very lucky to
work with them on the Bigger Picture project, where we coordinated the scanning and meta-tagging of 23,000 images which then ended up
as cloths wrapped around the museum.
Link Community Development
Link: www.lcd.org.uk
Link are a great NGO that specialise in linking UK schools with schools in a few countries in Africa. We have worked with them on a
number of Gemin-i Plus projects and the Bigger Picture.
CAMFED
Link: www.camfed.org
CAMFED International is dedicated to extending girls' access to education in poor rural communities of Africa. They worked with us
on the Bigger Picture Project.
World Food Program
Link: www.wfp.org
The WFP fights hunger in the developing world. Last year they helped 113 million people in 80 countries,
which we think is pretty remarkable. We worked with them on the Bigger PictureBigger Picture Project.
Digital Links
Link: www.digital-links.org
Digital Links are an excellent NGO that specialise in providing IT equipment and training for schools in Africa. We work with a
number of schools that they have kitted out.
Community Action Network
Link: www.can-online.org.uk
CAN is the UK's leading organization for the development, promotion and support of social entrepreneurs.
We built their intranet for them (which is called 'Bob'). It serves 60 or so organizations.
BBC World Class
Link: www.bbc.co.uk/worldclass
This is the BBC's excellent site for linking schools. They are helping to link 1000 UK schools with schools in Africa. We sit on
their stakeholders' group.
Imagine Education
Link: www.imagine-ed.com
Imagine Education evolved out of one of the schools we worked with on the Gemin-i Plus projects. They're a forward thinking consultancy
who are passionate about the international agenda. We nominated Baldev Singh (one of their directors) for a National Teaching award
recently which he deservedly won.
Venturesome
Link: www.cafonline.org/venturesome
Venturesome is breath of fresh air in the world of charity finance and we can wholeheartedly recommend them to any other charity. They've been helping us build capacity in our finance department.
Mirtha Medina
E-mail: hr4business@yahoo.co.uk
Mirtha has been working with us on our HR policies and practices for a while now and has provided us with some excellent help and support in all things HR related.
Ultralab
Link: www.ultralab.net
We've worked closely with the 'Lab' for many years (we were based there for a couple of years).
Pioneers in distance learning and putting fun back into learning, Ultralab is loved and respected around the world.
We owe much of our thinking to them and their decades of work.
Needless to say we think they're a fantastic lot.
Africa Practice
Link: www.africapractice.com
Africa Practice is an ethically driven corporate citizenship and communications consultancy. We've been helping Africa Practice distribute their innovative 'Newsroom' DVD to schools across the world.
Abraham Moss City Learning Centre
Abraham Moss, along with a number of other Manchester CLCs are funding the development of our new Gemin-i Observation Tool. Like us, AM are passionate about learning and can also see the huge potential this tool has not just in the UK but in the developing world too.
World Lingo
Link: www.worldlingo.com
WorldLingo creates and delivers innovative language translation and localization solutions that make it easy for businesses and professionals to interact with internal and external multilingual audiences anywhere in the world. Their software is integrated in Gemin-iPlus.
e-skills
Link: www.e-skills.com
We worked with excellent team at e-skills to build the clubroom for their Computer Clubs for Girls project. The aim of the project was to encourage teenage girls to be more innovative and to be more comfortable with IT. Seems to be working pretty well as there are now thousands of girls happily using it.
Enterprise Insight
Link: www.makeyourmark.org.uk
These are the visionary guys charged with making the UK more entrepreneurial. We've worked with them on a number of things but most recently we ran the online component of the Make Your Mark With a Tenner.
Channel 4
Link: www.channel4.com
Channel 4 needs no introduction. A great channel, a great education department and a great bunch of guys (and gals). They've been helping us with our Rafi.ki community and we've been helping them with a couple of their education projects.
Jobs Go Public
Link: www.jgp.co.uk
JGP is a rare beast - a very forward thinking, highly successful and ethical recruitment company. They specialize predominantly in the public sector, but we've worked with them on the Skills Abacus and helped them make sense of the often baffling education sector.
Optimist World
Link: www.optimistworld.com
dedicated to provide the public with a more positive news agenda to sit alongside mainstream media channels. As well as uplifting Optimist News, the site also investigates other aspects of everyday life which aim to inspire a positive outlook. The site is edited by seasoned world class journalists but is also creating a community of optimists that share stories and vote on their favourite charities and companies each week.
Polecatting
Link: www.polecatting.com
Started by the former heads of Innovation and CSR, Jim and Bron are two of the smartest folks we know and their now putting their brains to good use, helping others to measure social impact.
MyBnk
Link: www.mybnk.org
MyBnk is a truly extraordinary NGO that has come from no-where to be one of the leading lights in its field. MyBnk helps pupils learn about banking, social enterprise and innovation through its ‘MyBnk in a Box’ scheme. High street banks beware!
SSAT
Link: www.ssatrust.org.uk
The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust are a behemoth in UK education and a genuine force for good. We've been working with them on a number of things, but most recently on our schools community Rafi.ki
Brands 2 Life
Link: www.brands2life.co.uk
Brands 2 Life are the leading PR company specializing in the technology sector. They have a list of clients that reads like the FTSE 100 and have more imagination and energy than we've seen in quite a while. We're working with them on our Rafi.ki project.
Westminster Foundation For Democracy
Link: www.wfd.org.uk
WFD works to strengthen democracy across the world. The work they do is utterly fascinating and truly vital. We've currently looking at how we can use our Reflect tool to help train parliamentarians and their staff in Eastern Europe.
Changemakers
Link: www.changemakers.org.uk
Changemakers are a charity that helps young people make a contribution to society. They do this by running a number of excellent projects right across the UK. We share an office with them and despite all their excellent qualities we'd like to announce the fact that they are also rubbish at pub quizzes (sorry Laura).
Policy Unplugged
Link: www.policyunplugged.org
Policy Unplugged, lead by the mercurial Steve Moore, have done the impossible. They've made conferences fun, engaging and genuinely useful. Some of the most interesting and exciting events we've been involved in have been run by these guys.
Innovation Unit
Link: www.innovation-unit.co.uk
We worked with these guys for a number of years. Most notably on the pre-cursor to Reflect - the Gemin-i Observation Tool. The innovation Unit are doing some great stuff in the education sector, well worth looking out for.
Merlin John
Link: www.merlinjohnonline.net
Merlin is the UK's leading journalist documenting IT in education. He's worked extensively for the TES, Guardian and others. The secret behind his success is a genuine passion for the subject matter a thirst for change. Keep up the good work Merlin!
Have we missed you off the list? if so, apologies, we didn't mean it. Let us know and we'll you put you on.